Tension band

ABSTRACT

A tension band for maintaining tension in wire fences and the like including an improved securing and locking means simplifying the installation of the band.

[451 Aug. 12, 1975 United States Patent [1 1 Nelson et al.

2,968,470 l/l96l Pellerito et al. 256/47 2,997,278 8/1961 Pinson 256/47 3,503,590 3/1970 256/32 both of 756 Orion Ln., Foster City, Calif. 94404 TENSION BAND [76] Inventors: Robert L. Nelson; Susan J. Nelson,

Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Attorney, Agent, or F irmFlehr, l-lohbach, Test, Albritton & Herbert 3 7 9 l 7 4 7 .1 8 w 9 S3 0 N L D. MP FA 4 1 U ABSTRACT A tension band for maintaining tension in wire fences and the like including an improved securing and locking means simplifying the installation of the band.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,947,055 8/1960 McHenry 24/259 C 5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures t Re PATENTEU AUG 1 2 I975 SHEE? PATENTED AUG 1 21915 SHEET TENSION BAND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to tension bands and more particularly to tension bands including improved securing and locking means.

In wire fencing, particularly chain link fencing, the wire web is stretched between uprights which may be the fence posts, or in gates and sections the upright may be the gate or section frame. In general, the fence is stretched by suitable tensioning means via a tension bar which is connected to one end of the fence web. After the fence is tensioned, tension bands are installed to grip and hold the tension bar. Prior art tension bands include a portion whichencircles the upright and outwardly extending spaced fingers which are adapted to straddle the tension bar. A bolt is inserted through the free ends of the fingers and secured. When the tension bar is released by the tensioning means, it moves away from the upright and engages the bolts whereby the web is maintained in tension. It is apparent that such tension bands are relatively expensive. Furthermore, during installation there must be a supply of bands as well as nuts and bolts. Installation is time consuming because the bolt must be inserted through the ends of the fingers and the nut applied and tightened. The foregoing, of course, adds to the cost of inventory and to the cost of installation. The bolt protrudes beyond the face of the fence. In stables, kennels and the like, the animals may be injured when they rub against or strike the protruding bolts.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple one-piece tension band.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a tension band which is economical.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tension band which is easy to install.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tension band which presents substantially smooth surfaces to the faces of the fence.

In general, the foregoing and other objects of the invention are achieved by a tension band which engages the end of the fence to maintain the tension between uprights. The band includes an upright engaging portion with outwardly spaced finger portions with an L- shaped slot formed at the end of one of the fingers and the end of the other finger being bent towards the first finger and including a hook adapted to fit through said slot and hook the first finger to lock the band onto the end of the fence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a chain link fence including tension bands in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a cylindrical, upright tension bar and tension band engaging and holding the tension bar from the upright.

FIG. 4 is an end view of a tension band in locked position.

FIG. 5 is an end view with the band in its open position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tension band in the open position. FIG. 7 is a top .view of the tension shape of the preferred slot.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows the corner of a fence including a corner post 11, line post 12 and top and bottom rails 13 and 14. Chain link'wire webs 16 and 17 are shown on opposite sides of the fence. Tension bars 18 and 19 engage the ends of the webs 16 and 17. The tensioning bars are held from the upright post 11 by means of spaced tension bands 21 and 22. The tension bands include a portion which encircles and engages the post 11 and outwardly extending fingers which are adapted to engage and hold the tensioning bars to thereby maintain the fence in tension.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view taken along the line 2-2 of'FIG. 1 showing the tension bands 21 and 22 engaging the tension bars 18 and 19 which engage the ends of the chain link fence sections 16 and 17 respectively.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 3, a tension band 21 is shown. It is understood that tension bands 22 are identical. The band includes a body portion 23 which is adapted to encircle and engage an upright, such as upright 11, and outwardly extending spaced fingers 26 and 27 which straddle the tension bar 18. The body portion 23 may include a rib 24 to provide reinforcement. The end of the finger 26 is bent downwardly towards the finger 27 as shown at 28. The bent portion 28 may act as a guide and as a stop. The end of the finger 27 is bent toward the finger 26 to form a locking member 29 which includes a hook 31, FIGS. 4 and 5, which extends through a slots 32, FIGS. 6 and 7, formed in the finger 26. The hook locks the tension band as will be presently described.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the portion 27 includes the hook 31 which has a head portion 33 and a neck portion 34. The hook is adapted to extend through the slot 32 which includes a wire portion 36 and a narrow portion 37. The edge of head 33 includes a camming surface 38.

To close the tensioning band, the fingers 26, 27 are pressed towards each other and the guide 28 may guide the end of the head 33 towards the slot 32. The camming surface 38 engages the edge of the slot 32 and cams the finger sidewardly and allows the head to pass through the wide portion 36 of slot 32 until the neck portion reaches the finger 26, at which time the finger 27 moves sideways to allow the hook 31 to engage surface 39 of the finger 26. Thereafter, when the tensioning device releases the associated web, the tension forces pull the tension band against the locking member 29 to move it forward to cause the neck to engage the narrow slot 37. The portion 28 may act as a stop. The tension of the web makes it impossible to release the tension band without releasing the pull of the associated web. The tension band may be provided with a plastic coating to protect against the elements and to provide pleasing color.

It is, therefore, clearly apparent that there has been provided an improved tensioning device which is inexpensive to manufacture, which is a one-piece construction, which can be rapidly installed and which remains in a secure position without the danger of unlocking unless and until the tension on the web is released.

band showing the We claim:

1. A tension band of the type including a support engaging portion with outwardly extending fingers, the improvement comprising an elongated slot formed near the end of one of said fingers, a locking member formed by bending the end of the other finger towards said one finger, a hook having a neck portion and a head portion at the end of said locking member, said head portion extending farther toward one edge of said other finger than the edge of said slot extends toward the corresponding one edge of said one finger, said head portion formed to extend through said slot, a cam surface extending toward said one edge on the outside edge of said head portion, whereby when said hook engages the edge of said elongated slot in said one finger said cam surface moves said other finger laterally rela tive to said one finger until said head portion passes through said elongated slot and said head portion springs back in a reverse lateral direction to hook the end of said one finger, whereby said fingers are locked together without tension applied thereto.

2. A tension band as in claim 1 wherein said slot includes a narrow portion disposed toward the end of said one finger, said neck portion adapted to fit into the narrow portion of the slot for providing additional locking only when tension forces are applied to move said locking member toward the end of said one finger so that said locking member may be released prior to application of tension forces by moving said other finger in said reverse lateral direction.

3. A tension band as in claim 2 wherein the end of said one finger is bent towards said other finger thereby providing a stop for said locking member.

4. A tension band as in claim 1 wherein said support engaging portion includes a reinforcing rib for resisting malformation of said support engaging portion prior to installation.

5. A tension band as in claim 2 in which the entire band is plastic coated for providing erosion resistance. l= l 

1. A tension band of the type including a support engaging portion with outwardly extending fingers, the improvement comprising an elongated slot formed near the end of one of said fingers, a locking member formed by bending the end of the other finger towards said one finger, a hook having a neck portion and a head portion at the end of said locking member, said head portion extending farther toward one edge of said other finger than the edge of said slot extends toward the corresponding one edge of said one finger, said head portion formed to extend through said slot, a cam surface extending toward said one edge on the outside edge of said head portion, whereby when said hook engages the edge of said elongated slot in said one finger said cam surface moves said other finger laterally relative to said one finger until said head portion passes tHrough said elongated slot and said head portion springs back in a reverse lateral direction to hook the end of said one finger, whereby said fingers are locked together without tension applied thereto.
 2. A tension band as in claim 1 wherein said slot includes a narrow portion disposed toward the end of said one finger, said neck portion adapted to fit into the narrow portion of the slot for providing additional locking only when tension forces are applied to move said locking member toward the end of said one finger so that said locking member may be released prior to application of tension forces by moving said other finger in said reverse lateral direction.
 3. A tension band as in claim 2 wherein the end of said one finger is bent towards said other finger thereby providing a stop for said locking member.
 4. A tension band as in claim 1 wherein said support engaging portion includes a reinforcing rib for resisting malformation of said support engaging portion prior to installation.
 5. A tension band as in claim 2 in which the entire band is plastic coated for providing erosion resistance. 